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[Page H552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1045
PUT THE PEOPLE FIRST AND END GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from
Massachusetts (Mrs. Trahan) for 5 minutes.
Mrs. TRAHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about what is now
the longest government shutdown in American history, its impact on the
hardworking men and women of Massachusetts, and the opportunity cost of
the current impasse.
Over the last several weeks, I have heard heartbreaking stories from
Federal workers and their families from across north central
Massachusetts. During a meeting I had last week in Andover with
furloughed IRS employees, I heard about veterans struggling to afford
their prescriptions and parents worrying about putting food on the
table.
One woman had just recently lost her husband and others were still
recovering from last September's gas explosions in the Merrimack
Valley. A few days earlier, I spoke with an air traffic controller at
Logan Airport who, after hearing President Trump's assurances from the
Oval Office that the budget standoff would not lead to a shutdown last
month, felt comfortable splurging on Christmas presents for his wife
and four children. Now, with the bills coming due and his pay stub
reading zero, he and his family are confronted with anxiety and
financial hardship.
Each of the over 800,000 Federal workers impacted by this shutdown,
close to 7,500 in Massachusetts alone, has a story to share. I am the
daughter of a union iron worker and the country's biggest union, the
AFL-CIO, has a saying: A fair day's wage for a fair day's work. We gain
nothing from punishing the dedicated Federal workforce, nor do we
position ourselves to recruit the best and the brightest if we can't
even keep the lights on.
Today, the majority in this Chamber continues to vote for legislation
that reopens the Federal Government, restores critical services, and
makes Federal employees financially whole again.
As we continue to wait on the President and his party's leadership in
the Senate to do the right thing by approving House-passed legislation
to end this shutdown, critical pieces of legislation languish as the
American people wait anxiously for Congress to act on real issues and
crises, not the manufactured one on the border.
Healthcare costs continue to rise. Our climate is rapidly changing as
coastal communities suffer from more intense storms and more frequent
flooding, while California has faced down some of the largest and
deadliest fires in the history of the State.
Gun violence continues to rip apart families and communities, and
more Americans died of an opioid overdose than died during the Vietnam
war. There is so much more we should be focused on.
Madam Speaker, we cannot allow shutting down the government over a
policy debate to become the new normal. I was here as a staffer in 1995
during Newt Gingrich's shutdown and remember feeling that it was an
unprecedented event, never to happen again. Sadly, that feeling was
wrong.
We were all elected to this body to debate issues that matter to the
American people. It is what our constituents expect us to do. It is
time to open the government and debate border security on the floor of
the people's House for all to see.
Ensuring the safety and the security of the United States is among
our most solemn responsibilities. I take it very seriously, but the
only crisis right now is the one the President is making.
Each day that the administration keeps the government closed, it
threatens the financial security of Federal workers, the people who
process our taxes, inspect our food, and ensure airport security as
well as all of the people who depend upon them.
Each day of the shutdown is a day lost supporting education,
improving roads and bridges, and providing affordable healthcare.
We have sent bill after bill to the upper Chamber to provide border
security and reopen the government. This week, we will do it again. If
the President wants to improve border security, he should work with
Democrats on real solutions.
Madam Speaker, I oppose a $5 billion wall. Experts say the wall won't
stop the flow of drugs or prevent visa overstays. The people who live
at the border don't want it. But wherever you stand on funding a border
wall, holding Federal employees and their families hostage is
unacceptable.
Madam Speaker, it is time to put people first, end this government
shutdown, and get back to work.
____________________
